George W. Bush declines invitation to GOP convention

Former President George W. Bush will not attend next month’s GOP convention, POLITICO reported.

The news comes on the heels of Bush’s recent remarks about his desire to avoid the political spotlight post-Oval Office. A spokesman for the former president said Bush declined an invitation before details over a potential speech were discussed.

“President Bush was grateful for the invitation to the Republican National Convention,” Freddy Ford wrote in an e-mail to POLITICO. “He supports Governor Romney and wants him to succeed. President Bush is confident that Mitt Romney will be a great President. But he’s still enjoying his time off the political stage and respectfully declined the invitation to go to Tampa.”

As POLITICO pointed out, the announcement saves Republican candidate Mitt Romney a challenging decision on whether or not to have the “polarizing” former president speak at the convention. A Bush speech likely would have lead the Obama campaign to link the two.

Last week, Bush’s father, former President George H. W. Bush, and mother, Barbara Bush, said they would not attend the convention due to health reasons.